"Can I come in?" Mom asked Cora through her closed bedroom door.
"No." Mom came in anyways.
"You know, they're leaving right after Christmas, so we only have to survive another... three days."
"I don't get it. Every year it gets worse. Why do we have to put up with their crap just because we share DNA?" Cora asked.
"Because that's what a family is, Cora. People you try to be friends with even though you don't have a whole lot in common." Mom explained.
"But why?" Cora muttered.
"Because. Well-- okay, you kind of got me there. Or maybe it makes us work a little harder to find what we do have in common, you know. Put everything aside, think of other people for a change. Friends, family, even the assholes you normally can't stand." Mom continued.
"Like Uncle Howard?" Cora raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't wanna name names."
"Mom, do you really believe in all that?"
"I want to, Cora. But, hey, bet there's still time to drop that letter in the mailbox, huh?" Mom patted her head and walked out. Cora pondered sending the letter but instead tore it up and threw it out the window.
That night a blizzard came. It knocked out the power and brought extreme snow with it.
"Don't you find it the least bit strange? They can see dust specks on Mars, but no one noticed a giant blizzard hurtling towards us." Mom said.
"Well, as soon as the power's back, you can write an angry e-mail to the national weather service. But in the meantime, let's just try and stay calm." Dad calmed Mom.
"Mom, there's something weird outside." Max said.
"I am calm. I would just be calmer if I knew how we were gonna survive Christmas with 12 people stuck in a house with no hot water, no heat and no electricity." Mom ranted.
"Or food." Uncle Howard grumbled.
"Well, there's plenty of leftovers, Howard." Mom muttered.
"Beer it is."
"Dick." Cora muttered. "Phone's dead too."
"Mom!"
"What, Max?" Mom asked.
"There's a snowman in our yard. See?"
"That's-- that's great, Max." Mom sighed.
"But who built it?"
"You can barely see across the street, but it doesn't look like it's just us. I can walk over, check with the turners. The Turners are in Hawaii. The Lamberts are in Florida, and the cartwrights stopped talking to us after Max's noodle incident." Mom said.
"After his what?" Cora asked and Mom shook her head.
"Max, please go and get Omi out of the fireplace before she burns the whole house down." The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Aunt Linda offered.
"Fine. Seriously, what are we gonna do?" Mom continued to stress out.
"Ooh! Merry Christmas." Aunt Linda said.
"Sign here." Roger said.
"Yeah. Wow. Honey, stuff to carry! Some weather, huh?" Aunt Linda called for her husband.
"Yeah. It's a ghost town out there. Roads are a nightmare."
"Yeah, no kidding." Roger turned to leave. "Hey, these too?"
"Uh, not mine. Uh, must be from the boys in brown."
"All right. Merry Christmas."
"Yeah, you too."
"Ah, what is it? Hey, look at this, huh? What? They got more stuff. How come rich people get all the free shit?" Uncle Howard complained.
"I don't know, honey."
"Democrats, probably." Cora helped carry the giant red sack to the attic.
"Oh, my god! Who needs this much cheese?" Cora asked looking at the basket.
"One singular moment." Max said.
"You guys, I've texted Derek, like, nine times and he still hasn't written back. That is not normal." Beth complained.
"It's the blizzard, honey. Nothing's working right now." Mom said.
"Can I walk over and check on him? It's only a few blocks." Beth asked.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Mom said.
"I could see if anyone else has power on the way."
"She'll be fine." Dad said.
"Okay. One hour. When you get back, I want you to spend some girl time with Jordan and Stevie. Got it?" Mom added.
"You call that a reversal? Come on, Jordy, plant your feet! Plant your feet." Uncle Howard shouted at his daughters who were wrestling.
"All right."
"Right. You know what I mean. Thanks." Beth smiled as she put on her coat and hat.
"Be careful, okay?" Mom said.
"Okay. Back later. Love you." Beth closed the door behind her.
"One hour. Okay. Max, I told you to get Omi out of the--" Mom said.
"She says hot chocolate makes everything better." Cora translated after Omi spoke in German.
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